295719
Think Global, Act Local: Best Practices for the World
Monday, November 4, 2013
: 3:20 p.m. - 3:35 p.m.
Climate change, global conflict and economic necessity are driving the highest levels of migration in history. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) some 192 million people are living outside their place of birth. The scale of human displacement has turned migrant health into a priority global public-health issue, rendered more complex by the diversity of the populations involved, from people in search of work or education, to more vulnerable groups like asylum seekers and refugees. Apart from the increased potential for the spread of infectious disease that a more mobile global population brings, there is a rising concern that migrants' health needs are not adequately met. Many countries restrict access to health care for certain migrant groups including irregular migrants and asylum seekers. In some countries migrant health has been the subject of sustained attention, setting migrant-related health policy targets and including migrant health and healthcare issues in national and regional plans, while in other countries migrants are completely excluded from routine health services. The USA has the highest healthcare costs in the world. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) will extend coverage to 32 million previously uninsured Americans, yet 11.5 million migrants will be excluded. The presentation will provide experiences of US undocumented on either or both sides of the border, especially in advocating and/or implementing policies on either or both sides of the border, and recommendations for new, innovative approaches that can address public health/health care access, and health outcomes, for undocumented persons in the USA.
Learning Areas:
Public health or related public policy
Learning Objectives:
Describe the global migrant situation and the public health challenges posed.
List the different experiences implemented by other countries to address the issue of migrant health and access to care
Analyze experiences at the local level to provide health education and access to care for the uninsured and those who do not qualify for health insurance
Keyword(s): Public Health Policy, Immigrants
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am Chief of the U.S. Mexico Border Office, PAHO, previously Director of Health Promotion and Protection for the
Americas, focusing on issues that affect public health globally and strengthening institutional and community capacity
at the local level. Activities that I oversee and coordinate include developing models and evaluating their effectiveness in preventing chronic diseases, diabetes and childhood obesity, violence and injuries; and integrating mental health to
primary health care.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
